Our Mission
Meet Our Team
Welcome to RT Ranch Retreat, where we offer a loving and peaceful haven for retired racehorses and neglected horses in need of a caring home. Our mission to ensure these majestic animals enjoy their golden years surrounded by compassion and care. For our younger horses, we provide them with the opportunity to find a second career in a nurturing environment. Join us making a difference in their lives!
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Services
Horse Care
Boarding
Horse Retreat
Exceptional Horse Boarding Services
We provide exceptional horse boarding services, ensuring every horse receives the highest level of care, attention, and compassion while you're away. Our safe, comfortable, and well-maintained facilities are designed to promote the health and well-being of every horse in our care.
Whether you need short-term boarding or lifetime boarding, we offer flexible options tailored to meet the unique needs of both you and your horse. You can have peace of mind knowing your horse will be cared for as if it were our own.
Retirement
Golden Years Care
Retired Horse Sanctuary
We provide a safe, loving, and peaceful environment where retired horses can enjoy their golden years with the dignity and care they deserve. Our horses have plenty of room to roam, graze, and socialize while receiving compassionate daily care, proper nutrition, and individualized attention. Our commitment is to give every retired horse a comfortable, stress-free home where they can live out the rest of their lives surrounded by kindness and respect.
Training
Racehorse and Rescue Training
Racehorse Retraining & Rehabilitation
Our experienced trainers specialize in the rehabilitation and retraining of retired racehorses and neglected horses, helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and successfully transition into new careers or loving homes. For horses that are no longer suitable for riding or adoption, we provide a safe, compassionate sanctuary where they can enjoy a peaceful and dignified retirement with the lifelong care they deserve.
Health
Wellness Programs
Equine Wellness Program
Our equine wellness program is dedicated to supporting the physical and emotional well-being of every horse in our care. We provide regular health monitoring, balanced nutrition, individualized feeding plans, and exercise routines tailored to each horse's age, condition, and specific needs. Through compassionate care and proactive management, we strive to ensure every horse enjoys a healthy, comfortable, and fulfilling life.
OWNERS
Meet the Owners Heidi Richards Tafolla and Fidel Tafolla are lifelong horse people with over 30 years experience in horse training, ranching, and equine education. Heidi served as a Correctional Officer for 22 years and developed the horse program at Pleasant Valley State Prison, where she taught the Groom Elite Program through West Hills College. She also worked for the Harris Farms Horse Division, assisting with foaling, veterinary support, and hands-on horse care. Together, Heidi and Fidel also instructed the prison's Farrier Program, helping participants develop valuable equine skills. Fidel is an accomplished horse trainer and cattleman with decades of experience. He has trained dancing horses for Mexican musicians, as well as dressage, cutting, and reining horses. He also specializes in working with troubled, abused, and neglected animals, helping them rebuild trust and become safe, trainable partners. Their shared passion and expertise are the foundation of RT Ranch Retreat, where they are committed to providing exceptional care, rehabilitation, and a safe, loving environment for every horse.
Farm Managers
Noah Garza and Kendrally Fox
The farm is managed by lifelong horsemen and women who were raised around horses and developed a deep respect for their care and wellbeing from an early age. With backgrounds rooted in the racing industry, they bring firsthand experience and understanding of the physical and mental needs of retired racehorses. Their approach combines knowledgeable horsemanship, thoughtful rehabilitation , and daily hands-on care to ensure each horse transitions comfortably into a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life after racing. Dedicated to providing a calm, structured environment, the farm managers are committed to honoring each horse's past while supporting its future.
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Contact
Heidi Richards Tafolla
📞 559-906-6264
Fidel Tafolla
📞 559-998-9955
OZARK, ARKANSAS
Future Plans – 2026 & Beyond
The nonprofit 501(c)(3) Tender Loving Ranch will begin building the programs to include veteran equine therapy services, providing a supportive and healing environment for those who have served.
The ranch will also focus on rescuing younger horses from auctions and providing rehoming opportunities for retired racehorses that can no longer compete due to injury or illness, ensuring they are placed into safe, permanent homes whenever possible.
Looking ahead, we hope to develop a full riding arena and training facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and retraining of retired, abused, and neglected horses. This facility will also serve as a hands-on learning environment for veterans and youth interested in entering the equine industry, giving both people and horses a meaningful second chance.
With the support of grants and donations, our goal is to bring this vision to life by 2027, creating a place where horses heal, people grow, and new opportunities are built through the power of horsemanship.
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